LifterMate: Assistive Technology for wheelchair-toilet-bathtub-bed transfers

描述(由申请人提供)：使用轮椅的人(客户)、护理员和专业人员已经确认需要一种升降机设备来帮助轮椅上的人从轮椅上移入或移出浴缸，这些人不能或难以独立转移。LifterMate是一种辅助转移设备，将帮助客户和照顾者更容易地从轮椅转移到床，从厕所转移到浴缸。当前可用的商用升降机设备随着客户移动到底座尺寸之外而变得不稳定。LifterMate结合了一种创新的稳定设计，允许客户在三维空间内移动，这将允许移动进入和离开浴缸，进入和离开地板，以及进入和离开床，而床下没有现有升降器的底座。目前的浴缸转移选项需要进行重大安装或永久翻新。LifterMate相对便宜，易于从一个房间到另一个房间操作，易于安装，可用于单次或多次转移，易于拆卸和重新安置到新设施，适合短期或长期使用。稳定器组件的两个设计概念将在第一阶段进行评估，以证明其可行性。利益相关者的焦点小组-客户、护理人员和专业人员-将就他们对升降机可用性的关注和问题提供指导，评估设计图纸，然后评估两种设计的全尺寸模型。两种稳定器设计的台架模型将结合利益相关者的反馈进行准备。将对长凳模型进行工程分析，并确定它们在模拟轮椅进出浴缸的路径上移动113公斤人体假人的能力。可行性需要利益相关者和工程人员对一种或两种稳定器设计提供支持。第二阶段将侧重于稳定器原型的开发和对具有人体受试者的单元的评估，包括一旦证明安全后，评估客户。它还将包括手臂和底座部件的设计、开发和评估，以及它们与稳定器的集成。全LifterMate原型的准备和评估将完成第二阶段，并在第三阶段商业化之前完成。项目相关性由Critarion Health，Inc.开发的LifterMate将为坐轮椅的个人及其照顾者提供一个严重且往往代价高昂的问题的低技术解决方案，这些人无法或难以独立转移。霍耶升降机自1958年获得专利以来几乎没有变化，霍耶式升降机通常用于执行基本的转移，但它们无法将人从浴缸中转移进出，或将人从地板上抬起。这两种转移在日常生活中都很常见，如果处理不当，可能会对照顾者或患者造成严重伤害。LifterMate将提高照顾者和患者的生活质量，为残疾人及其家人的日常功能挑战提供创造性的解决方案。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): People who use wheelchairs (clients), caregivers, and professional staff have identified the need for a lift device to help people in wheelchairs, who cannot or have difficulty transferring independently, transfer from a wheelchair into and out of a bathtub. LifterMate is an assistive transfer device that will help clients and caregivers transfer more easily from wheelchair to bed to toilet to bathtub. Currently available commercial lift devices become unstable as the client is moved outside the dimensions of the base. LifterMate incorporates an innovative stabilizing design that allows the movement of the client in three dimensions, which will allow movement into and out of a bathtub, onto and off the floor, as well as onto and off a bed under which there is no room for the base of current lifters. Current options for tub transfers require major installation or permanent renovation. LifterMate is relatively inexpensive, easily maneuvered from room to room, easily installed for single or multiple transfers, easily removed and relocated to new facilities, and appropriate for short or long- term use. Two design concepts for the stabilizer component will be evaluated in Phase I to demonstrate feasibility. Focus groups of stakeholders-clients, caregivers, and professional staff-will provide guidance on their concerns and issues on the usability of lifters, evaluate design drawings, and then evaluate full-scale models of the two designs. Bench models of the two stabilizer designs will be prepared incorporating the stakeholder feedback. Engineering analyses of the bench models will be conducted and their ability to move a 113 kg human dummy in a path simulating a transfer from a wheelchair into and out of a bathtub determined. Feasibility requires both stakeholder and engineering support for one or both stabilizer designs. Phase II will focus on the development of prototypes of the stabilizers and the evaluation of the units with human subjects, including, once safety has been demonstrated, clients. It will also include the design, development and evaluation of the arm and base components as well as their integration with the stabilizers. The preparation and evaluation of full LifterMate prototypes will complete Phase II and precede Phase III commercialization. Project Relevance The LifterMate, developed by Criterion Health, Inc., will provide a low-tech solution to a serious and often costly problem for individuals in wheelchairs, who cannot or have difficulty transferring independently, and their caregivers. The Hoyer Lift, which has remained virtually unchanged since its 1958 patent and Hoyer-style lifts are commonly used to perform basic transfers, but they are not able to transfer people in and out of the tub, or lift a person from the floor. Both of these transfers are common in everyday living and can cause serious injury to the caregiver or patient if not done properly. The LifterMate will improve the quality of life for both caregivers and patients with a creative solution to a challenge of daily functioning for people with disabilities and their families.